The Legend Of Afghan Giants: Myth Or Reality?

Afghanistan has been the setting for many fantastical tales, including stories of giants. The Giant of Kandahar is one such story, featuring a 12-15 foot tall humanoid creature with red hair, six fingers, and two rows of teeth. According to the tale, the giant was encountered and killed by American soldiers in a cave in the Kandahar region of Afghanistan in 2002. The giant's body was allegedly taken by the military for examination, but the Department of Defense has denied any knowledge of such an incident. This story has sparked interest among conspiracy theorists and enthusiasts of the supernatural, with some speculating that the giant was a Nephilim, a biblical creature from the Book of Genesis. While the tale of the Giant of Kandahar remains a legend, it has captured the imaginations of many, leading to ongoing discussions and explorations of the mysterious and unknown.

The Giant of Kandahar

The tale of the Giant of Kandahar first emerged in 2016, when a YouTube personality named L.A. Marzulli posted an episode about the giant on his channel. Marzulli, an author, blogger and filmmaker, claimed to interview an anonymous soldier who witnessed the giant kill a comrade with a blade before being shot by the squad. Marzulli asserted that the giant was a Nephilim, a creature from the Book of Genesis, and that the US government was covering up the incident.

However, the story has been dismissed as a hoax by the Department of Defense, which has no record of the encounter. Despite this, the legend of the Giant of Kandahar has persisted, with some conspiracy theorists insisting that the government is hiding the truth.

US military encounters with giants

There are several stories of encounters between the US military and giants in Afghanistan. These stories are often shared by conspiracy theorists and enthusiasts of the supernatural.

The Giant of Kandahar

One of the most popular stories is that of the "Giant of Kandahar", a purported encounter that took place in 2002. According to the story, a group of US soldiers encountered a giant described as being 12-15 feet tall, with red hair, six fingers on each hand, and two rows of teeth. The giant allegedly killed one US service member with a spear before being shot by the rest of the unit. The giant's body was then supposedly airlifted by helicopter and never seen again. This story was featured in a 2016 YouTube episode by L.A. Marzulli, an author, blogger, and filmmaker.

The Giant of Kunar

Another story involves an infantry team leader who reported seeing "The Giant of Kunar" during a deployment between 2008 and 2009. Through a thermal scope, the soldier observed a large heat signature that suddenly stood up as a single being. The giant was described as being at least as tall as the surrounding 10-12-foot trees and moved with incredible speed.

Additional Encounters

There are also accounts from an anonymous Air Force drone operator who spotted three giants, each standing about 12 feet tall, and an Australian army officer who observed a giant strolling around a compound in Uruzgan province from about 1,800 meters away.

While these stories are intriguing, it is important to note that they are considered outlandish and have not been officially confirmed. The US Department of Defense has stated that they have no record of such incidents.

Giants in mythology

Giants are a common feature of folklore and mythology from around the world. They are typically depicted as human-like in appearance but are often prodigious in size and strength. The word "giant" is derived from the Gigantes of Greek mythology, first attested in 1297.

In Greek mythology, the Gigantes were the children of Uranus (the sky) and Gaia (the earth). They were involved in a conflict with the Olympian gods known as the Gigantomachy, which was eventually settled when the hero Heracles decided to help the Olympians. The Greeks believed that some of the Gigantes, like Enceladus, were buried under the earth, and that their tormented quivers resulted in earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Giants also appear in the folklore and mythology of many other cultures, including:

• Celtic mythology, which includes giants such as Cormoran and Gogmagog
• Norse mythology, which features giants known as jötnar, including fire giants (eldjötnar) and frost giants (hrímþursar)
• Armenian mythology, in which Hayk, the founder of the Armenian state, is said to have been part of a race of giants who helped construct the Tower of Babel
• Bulgarian mythology, which tells of giants called ispolini who inhabited the Earth before modern humans and often fought against dragons
• Basque mythology, where giants are said to represent the pagans who inhabited the land before Christianity
• Native American mythology, which includes tales of the Si-Te-Cah, a legendary tribe of red-haired, cannibalistic giants

In addition to their immense size and strength, giants are often associated with supernatural powers, such as sorcery or shapeshifting. They can be portrayed as either good or evil, with some giants intermingling with humans in a friendly way, while others are depicted as cruel and violent antagonists.

Conspiracy theories about giants in Afghanistan

There are several conspiracy theories about giants in Afghanistan, specifically in the Kandahar region. These theories revolve around reports of encounters between US military personnel and giant humanoids, allegedly taking place in the early 2000s, particularly in 2002. The giants are described as being incredibly tall, ranging from 12 to 15 feet, with distinct physical features like flaming red hair, six fingers on each hand, and two rows of teeth.

One of the most popular conspiracy theories is that of the "Giant of Kandahar," a mythical creature that has been part of supernatural myths and conspiracy theories. According to these theories, an American Special Forces soldier was killed by a giant in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in 2002. The giant, described as a Biblical or Old Testament creature, was said to be approximately 12 feet tall and wielding a blade. It allegedly killed a soldier named "Dan" before being shot and killed by other troops. The giant's body was then supposedly whisked away by the military, never to be seen again.

L.A. Marzulli, an author, blogger, and filmmaker, played a significant role in popularizing this theory. In 2016, he posted an episode on his YouTube series, "Watchers," in which he claimed to interview an anonymous military contractor or soldier who witnessed the incident. However, the Department of Defense has denied any record of such an event, and no reports of an entire patrol disappearing in Afghanistan have been found.

Another theory involves the "Giant of Kunar," a massive being reportedly seen by an infantry team leader during a deployment between 2008 and 2009. Through a thermal scope, the soldier observed a very large heat signature that stood up and moved with incredible speed, suggesting it was a single giant entity rather than a group of people.

Similar encounters have been reported by other military personnel, including an Air Force drone operator who spotted three giants, each standing roughly 12 feet tall, and an Australian army officer who spotted a giant strolling around a compound in the Uruzgan province.

While these stories remain speculative and lack official confirmation, they have captured the imagination of many, fueling conspiracy theories about giants in Afghanistan.

Similar legends from other cultures

Legends of giants appear in many cultures around the world. Here are some examples:

Greek Giants

The word "giant" comes from the Greek "Gigantes", a race of huge creatures who were the offspring of Gaia, the earth, and Uranus, the heavens. They were half-man and half-monster, with serpents' tails instead of legs. The Greeks believed that the giants were buried under mountains and that their presence was indicated by volcanic fires and earthquakes.

Norse Giants

Norse mythology features giants who were primeval beings that existed before the gods and were overcome by them. Jotunheim was the giants' realm, located in Midgard, the centre of the three-tiered Norse universe.

American Indian Giants

In American Indian mythology, giants are usually evil and dangerous. Some steal children, and others start fights among humans so they can steal their wives. Giants feature in the stories of the Seminole, Lakota, and Shoshone Indians.

Basque Giants

In Basque folklore, giants called "Jentil" are said to represent the pagans who inhabited the land before Christianity. They are described as enormous, strong, and hairy, and are believed to have built the many megalithic stone circles and dolmens in the Basque region.

British Giants

Gogmagog is said to have been the last giant in the British Isles. He was a 12-foot-tall giant who could uproot an oak tree as if it were a twig. He was eventually thrown off a cliff by Corineus, the founder of Cornwall, and Britain was thus rid of giants.

Japanese Giants

In Japanese folklore, "oni" are hideous giant demons with red or blue skin, three fingers and toes, and grotesque horns. They are super-strong and very keen on human flesh. They live in hell and are believed to be the result of people living evil lives on earth.

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